Electrically-controlled igniting device.



W. BALE.

ELEOTRIOALLY CONTROLLED IGNITING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAILZO, 1912.

QT owl L'cr Wi Wow/ fia h/ f x/14M 31% Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

,K MW

W. BALE.

ELEGTBIGALLY CONTROLLED IGNITING DEVICE.

APPLICATION TILED JAILZO, 1912.

wnmmn BALE, or TOOTING, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIOALLY-CONTROLLED IGNITING DEVICE.

Specification Letters latent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

Application filed January 20, i912. Serial-No. 672,381.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Bate, subject of the King of England, and residing in Tooting, Surrey, England, have nvented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Electrically-Controlled Igniting Dances, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to electrically controlled devices for gniting material such as are used in flashlight photography, or for scenic or other purposes, and hereinafter referred to as flashlight apparatus, and the object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this type whereln the charge ignited thereby shall be more qulckly and thoroughly ignited than heretofore, and to produce a portable form of apparatus.

The invention relates to the type of apparatus wherein a switch, a standard, and an igniter tray for holding the charges of flashlight material ignited by electrlcal means are employed. Portable apparatus has previously been used consist ngof a battery and holder, a non-flashing lgniter wire, and a tray, but to extend the usefulness of this apparatus we provide, according to this invention, a complete electrically controlled flashlight apparatus made the form of a single portable unit comprising a reflector, bat-tery and battery holder, a detachable gniter plug, and an igniter tray; a magazine for new igniters, and flash charges, may also be included as part of the umt.

It is known to use a detachable igniter member in the form of a non-rigid wedgeshaped plug bearing a fusible filament and inserted between electrical contacts.

A further feature of this invention relates toa special form of-plug hereinafter de-' scribed.

According to another feature of the present invention, it is preferred to use metallic filament lamp wire preferably of tantalum, on the igniter plug, as this gives a large initialv flash immediately it is traversed by the current.

line 33 of Fig. 1;- Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the igniter; Fi 5 is a side elevation, and Fig. 6 is a plan 0 the same; and Fig. 7 is an enlarged view showing the igniter in position in the aperture in the igniter tray.

Like reference letters refer to like parts throughout the drawings.

The apparatus comprises a box-like base preferably of sheet metal divided into three compartments A, B, and C by partitions D and E. These partitions D and E may be insulating. The compartment C is intended a to receive the battery C and is fitted with a sliding lid C which gives ready access to the interior of the compartment C if the'battery requires attention. The compartment A may receive a drawer but in the construction illustrated a hinged door A is provided; this compartment is intended to constitute a magazine for carrying a stock of igniters and of packets of charges of the flashlight material. Upon the partition E, which in the construction illustrated is shown as being made of insulating material, are fixed two resilient contact terminals E E which engage with the terminals of the battery C in the usual way when the latter is inserted into the compartment 0.

The base of the compartment B is open as will be seen from Fig. Sand the top of this compartment which constitutes the igniter tray is provided with an aperture B Immediately underneath the top of the compartment B is a plate B of insulating material having an aperture B situated immediately under the aperture B but smaller than the latter; a clearance of metal parts is thus left around the aperture B. On opposite sides of the aperture B are contact members B B, the contact member B being electrically connected to the terminal E as shown in Fig. 2. On the outside of the compartment B are binding posts F and G electrically connected with a switch plug H. The post F is also connected to the contactmember B and the post G to the terminal E Above the base above referred to is ar ranged a reflector K of any suitable shape preferably basin-like in form and having a flat portion'at one side whereby the reflector is mounted upon the base in any suitable manner, as for instance'by soldering, if the reflector and framework of the base are of metal which is preferably the case.

The gap between the contact members B B is bridged by a detachable igniter preferably of the form shown in Figs. 4 to 6. This consists of a plug L, preferably of wood, tapered so that it maybe wedged in the aperture 13 between the members B B The plug L carries a strip M of metallic-filament lamp wire which is arranged in such manner that when the plug L is inserted in the aperture "B so that its upper extremity carrying the strip M is exposed within the reflector, the strip M engages and electrically connects the contact members B B As will be apparent from Fig. 2- the strip M when thus inserted in place will be in'series with the battery C and the circuit will be completed when the switch plug H is operated. 7

N N indicate hooks by which the apparatus may be suspended when desired; these hooks may be arranged to swivel in the reflector.

It is preferred to. pack the charge of flashlight material in conical or other shaped packets which are themselves formed of a highly inflammable material such as rice paper, and when it is desired to prepare the apparatus for use the apex or corner of a packet is torn off and a little of the powder sprinkled around the strip of wire M, the packet containing the remainder of the powder being placed on the igniter tray close to the strip M.

The use of metallic-filament lamp-wire is advantageous, since it gives a large initial flash as it is instantly consumed at each usage, and this is found to give a better flashlight efi'ect by igniting the whole charge practically simultaneously than is possible with wires that merely melt or burn comparatively slowly.

The operation of the flashlight apparatus is as follows :An igniter L carrying a strip of wire M is placed in the aperture Bi! and a packet of flashlight powder is placed in position as already described. The operator with the switch H in his hand may be at any suitable distance from the flashlight apparatus and at an appropriate time may close the circuit by operating the switch H so as to ignite the flashlight powder.

Although one specific method of carrying out the invention has been described many modifications may be made- Without departing from the spirit thereof, for instance, the particular form-of the igniter may be modified in many ways, as also may the shape of the reflector, the battery holder and the igniter magazine. Moreover, the igniter tray need not necessarily be disposed between the battery holder and the igniter magazine.

A device has been described above which is more particularly adapted for igniting flashlight material, such as powder, but the metallic-filament Wire may be used as an exploder for charges in general, 6. g. for military work, or a wire of magnesium or any other conducting substance which during combustion provides suflicient light for photographic or other purposes may be substituted for the metallicfilament lamp wire. According to this latter modification no powder is required as the electric current is actually passed through the magnesium conductor so as to cause the latter to become incandescent and eventually to burn.

It will be seen that the apparatus described above is portable and always ready for use as all the parts can be moved as a single unit and the plug can be instantly replaced after each use; moreover, it is found to be eminently suitable for photographing moving objects, such as people dancing in a ballroom. As the apparatus moreover can be actuated from a distance the operator can use it to photograph himself separately or in a group.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters 'Patentisz An apparatus comprising a rectangular casing providing a support; a partition in said casing providing a magazine chamber; a second partition of insulating material providing an intermediate and a battery chamber; electric terminals secured to said second partition; a battery located within said battery chamber and engaging said terminals; a plate of insulating material secured against the underside of the top wall of the intermediate chamber; said wall and plate provided with registering apertures; electric terminals secured to said insulating plate and projecting through said apertures; electrical connections between the aforesaid terminals; a lug for inserting in said apertures and bri giing its respective terminals; a reflector mounted on said supporting casing; and means for closing, from a remote 'point, a circuit through said terminals and the" plug, substantially as described.

v In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM BALE.

. Witnesses:

J osnrn YOUNG, WALTER PEARSON. 

